Principal asks Montville school to share philosophy with ‘Happy’ song

Neighbor News (Montville Edition)

"Challenging" is the word many would use if asked to describe the winter of the 2014-2015 school year. But, at Woodmont Elementary School in Montville Township, Principal Dominic Esposito would say "Happy."

Despite a record seven snow days, a shortened spring break, countless Fun Fair reschedules due to rain, and pilot PARCC testing in addition to ASK tests, Esposito asked his staff to choose to remain happy.

Two weeks ago, on a Saturday night, while working on his summative evaluation, Esposito acutely saw what he already knew. His team had not only remained committed to being happy, but also, one after the other, they remained committed to developing and delivering innovative, student-centered initiatives.

As Esposito wrote, the Pharrell Williams Song, "Happy", began playing somewhere in his house. That’s when the Woodmont School is "Happy" video idea popped into his head. Within minutes, Woodmont’s first-year principal imagined a light-hearted and cooperative, student- centered, activity that would capture the essence of the Woodmont Elementary School community.

The next day, staff and students began making the idea a reality.

Esposito said he saw the video "as a way to sum up our philosophy for dealing with the changes imposed upon us by outside forces."

Within the week, production began, and yesterday, the Woodmont School is "Happy" video was released on YouTube (youtu.be/DhxVAF-vU0s).

"I saw the video as a great way to keep the students and staff motivated during the end of the year," Esposito said. "Rather than focus on leaving at the end of the year, we directed our attentions to create something to give to everyone who made this year a success."

Montville Township Public School Supervisors Edward Fleischman (arts), Lisa Howard (world language), Leslee Schenckman (guidance) and David Tubbs (humanities) each made cameos in the Woodmont video.

Principal asks Montville school to share philosophy with ‘Happy’ song

Neighbor News (Montville Edition)

"Challenging" is the word many would use if asked to describe the winter of the 2014-2015 school year. But, at Woodmont Elementary School in Montville Township, Principal Dominic Esposito would say "Happy."

Despite a record seven snow days, a shortened spring break, countless Fun Fair reschedules due to rain, and pilot PARCC testing in addition to ASK tests, Esposito asked his staff to choose to remain happy.

Two weeks ago, on a Saturday night, while working on his summative evaluation, Esposito acutely saw what he already knew. His team had not only remained committed to being happy, but also, one after the other, they remained committed to developing and delivering innovative, student-centered initiatives.

As Esposito wrote, the Pharrell Williams Song, "Happy", began playing somewhere in his house. That’s when the Woodmont School is "Happy" video idea popped into his head. Within minutes, Woodmont’s first-year principal imagined a light-hearted and cooperative, student- centered, activity that would capture the essence of the Woodmont Elementary School community.

The next day, staff and students began making the idea a reality.

Esposito said he saw the video "as a way to sum up our philosophy for dealing with the changes imposed upon us by outside forces."

Within the week, production began, and yesterday, the Woodmont School is "Happy" video was released on YouTube (youtu.be/DhxVAF-vU0s).

"I saw the video as a great way to keep the students and staff motivated during the end of the year," Esposito said. "Rather than focus on leaving at the end of the year, we directed our attentions to create something to give to everyone who made this year a success."

Montville Township Public School Supervisors Edward Fleischman (arts), Lisa Howard (world language), Leslee Schenckman (guidance) and David Tubbs (humanities) each made cameos in the Woodmont video.